By Donny Parrish, Lifeword Executive Director

Ever wondered what David Dickson, Bryan and Pam Risner, Candra Barnett, Stan and Donna Scroggins, and the Johnsons have in common? It’s simple. They’re all BMA missionaries! But here’s the interesting part: They all started their journey through BMA Volunteer Student Missions (VSM).

For years, VSM has been the steppingstone for many to discover their calling into long-term missions. Take the David Dickson family, for example. Their first taste of missionary life came through a short-term mission trip. These trips provided an opportunity to witness firsthand the work of missionaries, experience different cultures, and engage in ministry. Many who took part in these short-term trips found that their passion for missions grew, leading them to commit their lives to long-term service.

The modern VSM story began in 1999 when a group of students from the University of Central Arkansas who were involved with their local Association of Baptist Students decided to serve on the mission field. This initiative gave birth to VSM.

Soon after, an annual missions boot camp at Daniel Springs Baptist Camp began attracting hundreds of students each summer. SOAR, the BMA’s annual student event, began promoting these trips, making VSM a central part of their challenge to students. Eventually, BMA Missions (now BMA Global) embraced the idea of summer mission trips for students, integrating it into their mission opportunities for local churches. Over the years, hundreds of students have dedicated part of their summer break to serve with BMA missionaries worldwide. Time and again, these short-term trips have become the launching pad for long-term missionary service. Many of today’s missionaries can trace their calling back to a short-term experience that opened their hearts to the mission field.

Today, VSM is led by Angela Rice, Coordinator of Short-term Missions. Each year, students commit to serving in the United States and across the globe, helping BMA missionaries build relationships in their fields of service. VSM has also inspired other short-term mission opportunities that Angela promotes, organizes, and oversees annually. This includes a weekend of training and inspiration for both students and leaders called World Missions Weekend! In 2024 alone, over two dozen groups served with BMA missionaries through BMA Short-term Missions.

Involving students in the Great Commission is at the heart of Volunteer Student Missions. Young people continue to hear the call to serve the Lord, and VSM remains dedicated to providing the pathway to the mission field. God continues to use VSM as a gateway to full-time missionary service—proving that a short-term trip is often just the beginning of a lifelong journey in missions!To learn more about a BMA Short-term Missions trip for your church or to send your students on a Volunteer Student Missions adventure, visit www.bmaglobal.org/vsm or call Angela Rice at 214.498.3041 OR angela@bmaglobal.org